DIY SCARF PRINT SHORTS

11th April 2012

With Coachella and a whole number of other summer festivals on the horizon, your thoughts are probably turning to festival outfit planning, and how you can get your ‘pocahontas goes to burning man‘ look down pat. I’ve been lusting for a pair of scarf print shorts for agessss (remember this post?) and have decided that they are to be my uniform for this year’s festivals. I’ve been seeing them everywhere in stores actually, but what’s better than when they’re quick and cheap to make yourself? I mean, surely we don’t want to be wearing our nice, expensive digs when we sit in mud (guaranteed to happen) or have sweaty men rub up against us in the crowds (if we’re lucky). These simple scarf print shorts are perfect festival get up. So get amongst it!

You need:
– A cotton or silk style scarf – mine was a big one from H&M
– Elastic to fit around your waist
– A pen
– Scissors
– Thread
– A ruler
– Sewing pins
– Craft paper
– a pair of shorts to trace the pattern.

I recommend using a sewing machine for this project but if you are really super keen you could probably do it by hand also. Don’t have a machine? Beg, borrow or steal – this project is worth it! Also – if you have a selvedger you should use that to finish the edges, but I don’t and was happy with a rough look. They’re for jumping up and down at festivals right?

1. First make the pattern by folding your shorts in half (front pockets on the outside) and then tracing them onto the craft paper. Look at you making patterns and stuff! So fancy!

2. Your pattern should look like this. Now add 2 cm (approx 1 in) to the bottom and sides of the pattern, and 4 cm (approx 1.5in) to the top (ie waistband) of the pattern.

3. Cut your pattern out.

4. Fold your fabric in half, keeping in mind where you want your scarf pattern to sit. I would have liked to line the pattern up at the front with two right angles of pattern on each side of the shorts but I had first time jitters and went with the patterned hem instead.

5. Pin the long straight edge of the pattern along the fold.

6. Cut out the fabric along the pattern.

7. Now cut out another piece of fabric using the pattern so you have two identical pieces.

8. Pin the two pieces together right sides facing each other.

9. Sew the fabric with a straight stitch along the two curved edges – following the pin line shown below. You want to be quite careful how you sew these pieces together because you want your pattern to match up perfectly. Note that this seam will be the front seam of your shorts and the most important place for the pattern to match up.

10. Fold the shorts in together so the two sewn seams are facing each other. Then sew around the crotch where you can see the pins in the picture below.

11. Make the elasticated waistband by pinning the waistband down a few cm, sewing with a straight stitch and then threading with elastic. I squeeze my elastic onto a knitting needle to make it easier. Then sew the elastic ends together and then sew the waistband shut.

12. Finally, finish all the raw edges with a zigzag stitch to reduce fraying and stop the shorts from splitting.And there you have it! Possibly the easiest sewing project to do in the world – I actually first learnt it in Hom Ec in year 8. Once you have the process down pat go crazy experimenting with colours, textures and embellishments. If you want your shorts to be more full than mine ie with more fabric in them, make the pattern wider in the waistband by but keep the length the same.

I love this!! I need a sewing machine and some beginner skills so badly!! This way I could make shorts that don’t make me look like a 6’tall hooch….or do depending on how I feel that day. Only part I’m confused on is when you fold the shorts in together, the part right before sewing the crotch. Can’t really visualize? So inspired by you Geneva, I think you are so creative.

Hi Steph, so glad you read through the whole tute, the crotch bit was the hardest part to explain actually! Haha. So basically you will have just sewed the rounded seams which are on both sides of the fabric pieces, now fold them in to the middle so that the two seams sit together and the sides of the shorts have no seams. Does that make sense?

Yes! So when you fold them in you sew that when you attach the crotch area? And actually you are an excellent tutorial and sewing explainer and that is coming from someone who has never sewn. I am seriously looking for a machine now though and it has a LOT to do with you and all of your amazing DIYs!

OOOMMMMMGGG!!! I can’t belive it! Love the result, simply amazing!! Great job dear! I think that I can’t be able to do it, I don’t have too much patience;) and neither sewing machine! Gorgeous post dear!

The truth is that I have millions of handkerchiefs hidden in the bottom of a drawer, and have given me an idea, I think quite simple. So here one of these days I will put to me a short one of the many scarves I have.Yours’m really good!

this is awesome! thankyou so much i never thought you could make a pattern out of pre existing clothes, and ive been trying to figure out how to make a simple pair of cute shorts! thankyou so much! btw if you have tips on how to get a fashion blog off the ground and running could you tell me? thanks darlin xoxo http://pennycounterpretty.wordpress.com/

Geneva, this is such a great idea and I can’t wait to try it (I’m a beginner though!) I’m confused on step 8 and the following picture. Do you unfold them? I’m sorry, I’m just really confused! I want to make these as soon as I can!

Hi! I found this post after seeing your sequin shorts post. My legs definitely can’t handle all the attention from sparkly shorts but I can definitely think of a scarf that I could use. I’m so excited to make these, hurrah! xx http://visforverity.tumblr.com/

I was following clearly up until step 10, where i became totally lost. I don’t understand how you are folding the sewn curved edges so they are ‘facing each other.’ And the picture doesn’t match what I have either Do I unpin the right angles that I pinned together before?

I stumbled upon your site during a google search for DIY fashions and I must admit I am addicted! Thanks to you, I’m now making my own skirts, shorts, and so much more! Thank your for your awesome tutorials!

[…] During summer time I love incorporate shorts into my outfits. So you may have noticed my DIY on cut off shorts which you can find here. But I found through DIY queen ‘a pair and a spare’ that you can also make nice shorts out of scarfs. Check out the DIY here. […]

[…] What could be better than a coppery pair of sequin shorts – perfect for pairing with singlets, tees, silk shirts and of course, killer heels. The process I used in this project is almost identical to the scarf print shorts I made a few months ago – head back there to refresh on making a pattern. […]

Whats the approximate size of the scarf you used? I haven’t found any scarves large enough to make shorts from, so I thought I’d just go buy some material. How much should I get? I’m a compltet beginner and need as much info/details as you can provide.
Thanks!
PS enjoy your posts lots!

[…] post at CreatorsOfDesire and I immediately ran to Weekday for the scarf! I decided to make short shorts instead of the longer knee lenght ones from Acne because that length is just not flattering for me […]